Kranka (B/A) Dec. 11, GNA - Dr Elsaid Yeboah, Assistant Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Ghana, has urged Muslim parents to attach great importance to the education of their children, especially the girls.

Dr Yeboah was addressing Muslims at Kranka in the Nkoranza District of Brong Ahafo Region during the inauguration of a GH=A2 60,000 (600 million cedis) mosque constructed by the Islamic Council for Humanitarian Services and Development, a nongovernmental organisation (NGO).

He expressed concern about how some Muslim parents encouraged their daughters into early marriages at the expense of their education. "Such practices are past and gone and we should no more encourage and tolerate them," Dr Yeboah said.

The FAO Representative, who is a citizen of Kranka, commended the NGO for assisting Muslims in the town to put up the mosque, which would accommodate more than 1,500 Moslems.

Dr Yeboah later launched an education endowment fund, dubbed "Kranka Islamic Educational Trust Fund", with the aim of assisting brilliant but needy students to further their education. He explained that the fund was not meant for only Islamic children but the entire students in the area.

The FAO representative paid special tribute to the late Alhaji Tahir, founding father of Islam at Kranka. Mrs Fati Saaka, Nkoranza District Deputy Coordinating Director, called on Muslims to live in unity, peace and understanding to enhance the growth of the religion.

She stressed that Islam was a peaceful religion and that should reflect in their lifestyles and advised the youth to be disciplined and to live above reproach to become responsible and useful citizens. Mrs Saaka urged Muslim parents, especially the women to minimize their huge expenses on clothing, luxuries and cooking utensils and to channel their resources to the education of their children. She donated GH=A2 100 on behalf of the District Assembly to support the fund.

Malam Baba Ahmed, representative of the Islamic Council Aid, cautioned that "any Muslim, who would not promote unity, peace and understanding should not count himself or herself as a true Muslim". Nana Ofori Amisare Okofo VIII, Akwamuhene of Nkoranza Traditional Area, who presided, called for tolerance among all religious groups in the area to promote peace and understanding needed for nation building. 11 Dec. 07